The Tata Mumbai Marathon unfolded on Sunday with over 65,000 participants taking to the streets. Medical teams remained busy throughout the event, attending to a significant number of runners. Official figures reveal that 2,400 individuals needed medical help. Among these cases, 27 people required hospitalization for issues ranging from mild complaints to more severe conditions.
Hospital Admissions and Patient Details
Most of those hospitalized were taken to Bombay Hospital, the nearest major private facility to the marathon route. Ten runners arrived at its emergency room. Medical staff admitted one patient to the Intensive Care Unit and another to a general ward. A third individual remained under observation in the ER itself.
Specific Cases of Dehydration and Collapse
Doctors treated several runners for severe dehydration. A 21-year-old participant collapsed close to the finish line due to this condition. In a separate incident, a 42-year-old man from Vikhroli also collapsed. His oxygen saturation levels dropped to between 80 and 84 percent, accompanied by a dangerously high heart rate. He is currently receiving supplemental oxygen at a rate of 2 litres per minute. Another runner, aged 32, was admitted with symptoms of generalised weakness.
Dr. Gautam Bhansali, a Consultant Physician at Bombay Hospital, provided context. "This year we did not have any critically ill patients," he stated. "Earlier years have had one death and cases of brain hemorrhage and heart attack." The absence of fatalities marked a positive change from the 2024 event, which reported two deaths.
Serious Injuries and Accidents on the Route
Not all medical issues were related to dehydration. Some participants sustained serious physical injuries. Savita Shyamsundar, a 42-year-old resident of Kandivli, experienced a terrible accident during her first 6km run. She described the moment with remarkable positivity.
"It happened when I slowed down a bit while running with my son and husband, and the person behind accidentally pushed me," she explained. An uneven lid on the road surface caused her to fall. The impact forced her knees to bend and twist upwards. Her injury may require an operation. Fortunately, an orthopaedic doctor participating in the marathon was nearby and provided immediate first aid with stretches.
Treatment at Other Mumbai Hospitals
Medical emergencies were not confined to one location. Four runners with severe dehydration and elevated heart rates were rushed to Jaslok Hospital. All four received treatment and were later discharged. P D Hinduja Hospital also managed a similar case.
Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, the event's official medical partner, treated two more runners. These individuals presented with dehydration and altered sensorium. One of them remains under hospital observation and is receiving vasopressor support intravenously to stabilize critically low blood pressure.
Incident Involving Police Officer on Duty
The medical response extended beyond the runners. Earlier in the day, a police officer deployed for marathon security duties collapsed. Officials suspected he suffered a heart attack. Fellow officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the spot. When this initial effort failed, they rushed him to a nearby hospital. Police authorities confirmed that the officer responded well to hospital treatment, stabilized, and was subsequently discharged.
As of press time, a few of the hospitalized runners remained admitted for continued care. The overall medical response highlighted the physical demands of the marathon while showcasing the preparedness of Mumbai's healthcare services during large public events.
